Massive injury blow for Chelsea ahead of Arsenal clash

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Antonio Conte will be without Alvaro Morata and Cesc Fabregas for Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Morata is ruled out of the encounter at the Emirates Stadium with a back problem in a blow to Conte and Chelsea’s hopes of reaching the Carabao Cup final.

‘Morata and Fabregas are out,’ Conte said. ‘They are not available for the Arsenal game. Then I have to check a couple of situations [with other players].

‘He (Morata) has a problem in his back.’

Chelsea were without the Spanish duo for the trip to Brighton on Saturday and ran out 4-0 winners but Conte stopped short of guaranteeing the same attack, which included Michy Batshuayi, would start against Arsenal.

‘I have another night before to decide the starting 11,’ Conte said. ‘Every game is different, the opponents change and you must be intelligent to understand if it is right to continue in the same way with the same players.’

But the fitness news wasn’t all bad for Chelsea, as Conte confirmed that centre-back Andreas Christensen is available for selection.

‘He is fit, he trained with us and he is fit,’ Conte said.

The Denmark international was taken off at Brighton after 55 minutes following a clash of heads with Shane Duffy.